Flying toy projectile

ABSTRACT

A toy projectile which has a channel through the fuselage and is launched from a rod on which the fuselage is slidably mounted, is made more controllable by having the rod engage in the channel as a key in a keyway.

United States Patent [191 Lee ' 1 FLYING TOY PROJECTILE [76] Inventor:Douglas J. Lee, 1036 1/2 St.,

Houston, Tex. 77009 [22] Filed: July 8, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 486,639

[52] US. Cl. 46/81 [51] Int. Cl A63h 27/14 [58] Field of Search 46/81,74 B; 124/5, 21

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,264,777 8/1966 McCreary,Jr 46/81 2/1970 Korona 124/21 [451 Aug. 12, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 585,286 10/1958 Italy 46/81 Primary ExaminerLouis G.Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, orFirmKenneth H. Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A toy projectile which has achannel through the fuselage and is launched from a rod on which thefuselage is slidably mounted, is made more controllable by having therod engage in the channel as a key in a keyway.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] AUG 12 I975 SHEET I FLYING TOYPROJECTILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toa toy projectile or more particularly a toy airplane which is launchedinto launching force provided to the projectile from an outside source.The principal source of outside power for such projectiles has been handlaunching, that is, the projectile, an airplane in this instance, isheld in the hand of the operator and the projectile tossed or thrown bythe operator. This method works adequately well, however, hand launchingmay be erratic and is limited in the amount of force that may be appliedto projectile. The amount of lift provided to the wings of theprojectile is determined by the initial thrust from the hand launching.It has been found in the past that hand launching can be improved if theprojectile is launched from a rod. The rod provides a uniform path forthe projectiles initial thrust, so that each launch is predictablyuniform and in addition, a greater velocity can be applied to theprojectile with a minimum of effort.- By using the launch rod, anoperator can develop the requisite skill of manipulation in only a shortwhile. The launch rod allows the use of principally wrist action. Theflight of the projectile from the launch rod for an individual operatoris generally of greater length than can be achieved by the operator byhand launch- A launch rod was employed, for example, in the gameprojectile described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,777, which is representativeof the rod launched toys. Generally, a toy projectile consists of a bodyor fuselage, with wings or fins and a tail assembly and an openingextending longitudinally through the fuselage, which is adapted to fitover the rod launcher. The opening in the fuselage is large enough, suchthat projectile will move freely along the launch rod. A problemencountered with the arrangement has been the tendency of the projectileto rotate about the axis of the cylindrically shaped rods of the priorart. If the projectile rotates from the horizontal alignment of itscenter of gravity the flight path will tend to veer off too much to theside. This may be desirable at times, however, it is not controllablewith the prior art arrangements.

Since the prior art employed cylindrical rods for launching, the openingthrough the fuselage has a corresponding cylindrical opening. Theregular configuration of the opening through the fuselage can createeddies and internal currents which can so disturb the air behind theprojectile that a partial vacuum is formed. This partial vacuum has thesame effect as the partial vacuum created by the camber of the wing, butinstead of helping to lift the projectile it tends to drive it backward.

Another disadvantage noted with the prior art launch systems has been acertain amount of drag resulting from the friction of the launch rodwith the channel through the fuselage.

The opening through the fuselage also serves to reduce the weight of theprojectile, since once it is air borne, it is a glider or soaring typeof toy dependent not only on the velocity imparted to it by the launch,but on the existing ambient wind and air currents. Thus, the

empty space of the channel does serve a very useful purpose inlightening the plane notwithstanding the disadvantages as notedhereinabove.

A further disadvantage of the prior planes is that they can be launchedwith high velocity only from the launching rod.

The principal advantages of the present toy projectile are, (1) it has ameans of controlling attitude of the projectile to the horizon, (2) ithas reduced internal friction between the launch rod and the channelthrough the projectile and there is reduced drag. Another advantage ofthe present projectile is the ability of the operator to select andcontrol the flight path of the projectile. A particular feature of theprojectile is an adapter that allows the operator to use a sling shottype of launch as an alternate to the rod. A further feature iscooperative interrelationship of the rod and channel and in particularthe improvement in the rod to further reduce drag. These and otherfeatures and advantages will become apparent from the overall discussionof the toy projectile of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of theprojectile and the launch rod in functional relationship.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the present projectile.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a launch rod according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of an alternate embodiment of the presentprojectile.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present projectileand a transparent projection into the fuselage of the projectile.

Flg. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a launch rod.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation of the launch rod takenon 8-8 of FIG. 7.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvementsin flying toy projectiles. Briefly stated the invention is a sys terncomprising a launching means comprising a rod having at least one flatsurface longitudinally thereon and a projectile comprising an elongatedfuselage, at least two aerodynamically stabilizing wings projecting fromsaid fuselage and a channel longitudinally ilirough said fuselage, saidchannel having a configuration adapted to cooperatively receive said rodtherethrough and a flat surface to slidably engage said flat surface onsaid rod to prevent rotation of said projectile about said rod when saidrod is engaged through said channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The projectile may very generallybe described as an airplane. However, this is only a very general use ofthe term and the invention broadly encompasses any aerodynamic structurehaving lifting or flight characteristics, that is, an airplane of theconventional type, e.g., having wings and tail fin, saucer shapedstructures, older bior tri-winged airplanes, rockets, and the like.

The projectile may be made of a number of materials such as balsam wood,foamed plastics such as polystyrene, polyurethane; or molded, casted,extruded, vacuum formed or injected plastics such as, ethylene or PVC.Very conveniently the projectile may be produced from foamed plastic ina single unit, i.e., fuselage, wings and tail are all assembled in asingle step by foaming the plastic in the mold. The launch rod may bemade of wood, metal or a polymeric material, e.g., have a handle at theend, or may have an offset or dog leg (not shown) adjacent to thehandle. This allows the tail of the projectile to set back against thehandle. The rod will generally be from about 12 inches to 30 inches inlength.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a toy projectile A according to the presentinvention is shown in perspective. In this embodiment the projectile isrepresented as an airplane having fuselage 3, wings I and tail 2. At thefront of fuselage there is a semicircular opening 4. This opening 4 isthe entrance into a channel or passageway 8 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6)which passes through the fuselage 3 and exits at opening 7, adjacent tothe tail 2. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a launch means B comprised of launchrod 5 and handle 6. The launch means B is in cooperative alignment withopening 7 and channel 11, such as that existing immediately before therod is inserted through opening 7 and along channel 8 preparatory forthe launch of the projectile or immediately after the projectile A hasbeen launched.

The interrelation and cooperation between the projectile A and launchmeans B comes about when the projectile is seated onto the rod 5 throughchannel 8 preparatory for the launching and flight of the projectile.The rod 5 is generally longer than the fuselage 3, but need not be andthe projectile is generally seated by means of channel 8, well back,even to abutting handle 6, on the rod 5, with a portion of rod 5projecting out of opening 4 and extending beyond the fuselage.

In so doing the channel 8 and rod 5 are in cooperative engagement muchas a keyway and key, respectively. The rod 5 will have the sameconfiguration as the channel 8 such that said configuration will notallow the projectile to rotate about the rod, thus almost anyconfiguration of channel 8 or portion of the channel and rod 5corresponding thereto is contemplated other than circular. In FIGS. 1and 7 it can be seen that configuration of openings 4 and 7 and rod 5are semicircular.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, which could be the projectile of FIG. 1,it can be seen that the channel 8 is indeed circular over most of itslength, but that plugs 9 have been inserted at both ends of the channel8 to create semicircular openings 4 and 7. The shape of opening is notcritical, so long as it will accommodate a rod having a correspondingshape, such that the cooperative engagement of the rod into the channelwill prevent the projectile from rotating about the rod.

This key-keyway arrangement allows the operator to predetermine andcontrol the attitude of the projectile to the horizon. That is, ifstraight flight away from the operator is desired, then operator canlaunch the projectile by moving the rod with the projectile seatedthereon, shapely down, in same manner a rod in fly casting is handledand as the rod comes into line with the vector of force applied by theforward motion of the rod the projectile will slide off of the rod 5 andinto flight. The prior rods were circular so that the projectile couldrotate and come off the rod in flight with wings canted angularly to thehorizon. The flight path would then be angled to the right or left,rather than on the straight flight path sought by the operator. Thepresent invention can prevent the inadvertent deviation of the projectfrom the selected flight path by seeing that projectile leaves the rodin that path. Similarly, the operator can now select flight paths, suchas one angled sharply to the right or left and achieve a launch alongsaid flight path.

Although channel 8 in FIG. 5 is shown as circular with plugs 9 inserted(or molded therein) the entire channel could have a semicircularconfiguration. Generally the cooperative configuration of the channel 8can be described as having at least one flat surface therein tocooperatively engage a corresponding surface of a rod to thereby preventrotation of the projectile about said rod. As noted the flat surfaceneed not be continuous through the channel. A plug 9 only adjacent totail 2 would serve the same function of the plugs at both front and rearof the projectile as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly a flat surface could becomprised of a series of single member or rods which would function as asurface.

In FIG. 5 a further embodiment is also depicted. Located along thechannel 8 are one or more rollers 10. Referring to FIG. 6, the roller 10is seen to be rotatably mounted on axle 12 such that the surface ofroller 10 will be in cooperative engagement with the surface on rod 5.It can be readily appreciated that plugs 9 can be replaced with rollers10 to create the flat surface as described above. The rollers may causeless drag than the plugs when they contact the rod thus putting more ofthe force exerted by the operator into momentum of the projectile.

Both the plugs 9 or any other obstruction within channel 8 serve anotherfunction which is to destroy the regularity of the round channel andthereby reduce the likelihood of eddies and internal currents within thechannel which can so disturb the air behind the projectile that apartial vacuum is formed. The partial vacuum created can be asubstantial drag.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment is shown to that ofFIG. 1, in that the semicircular opening 7 is inverted from that shownin FIG. 2, thus the channel 8 would be inverted likewise.

A further feature of its present projectile is its versatility in thathook 11 shown in FIGS. 5 and 11 allows the projectile to be launchedfrom a catapult device much as a sling shot.

FIG. 7 shows the launch means portion of the present invention inanother embodiment wherein one or more ball bearings 13 are rollablyseated in the rod 5 to further reduce friction as the projectile slidesalong the rod during launching. Also on the rod are fins 14 which areintended to allow only a point of contact and to keep the major portionof the body of the rod 5 from contacting the inner surface of thechannel 8. In FIG. 7 the arrangement of the fins 14 can be better seenand the relationship to the channel 8. The ball bearing 13 can be seenseated in pocket 15 which allows bearing 13 to roll but not come out ofthe pocket.

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for achieving glider flight comprising a launching meanscomprising a rod having at least one flat surface longitudinally thereonand a projectile comprising an elongated fuselage, at least twoaerodynamically stabilizing wings projecting from said fuselage and achannel extending longitudinally through said fuselage, said channelhaving a configuration adapted to cooperatively receive said rodtherethrough and a flat surface for slidably engage said flat surface onsaid rod for preventing rotation of said projectile about said rod whensaid rod is engaged through said channel.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said channel is substantiallycylindrical and said flat surface comprises at least a plug at one endof said channel and extending partially into said channel.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said rod has a handle on oneend thereof.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said plut is at the end ofsaid channel nearest said handle.

5. The system according to claim 2 wherein there is a plug extendingpartially into said channel at both ends of said channel.

6. The system according to claim 2 wherein said channel and flat surfaceplug form a semicircular slot.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said rod has a semicircularcross-section.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said channel has at least oneroller mounted therein for contacting said rod.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said rod has a plurality ofball bearings movably mounted on the surface thereof for contacting saidchannel and reducing friction and drag.

10. A flying projectile comprising an elongated fuselage, at least twoaerodynamically stabilizing wings projecting therefrom and a channelextending longitudinally through said fuselage said channel having atleast one flat surface therein extending along at least a portion ofsaid channel.

11. The projectile according to claim 10 wherein said flat surfacecomprises a plug extending partially into said channel.

12. The projectile according to claim 11 wherein said plug and channelform a semicircular slot.

13. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein a plug partiallyextending into said channel is adjacent to both ends of said channel.

14. The projectile according to claim 10 wherein a hook extendsangularly from said fuselage.

1. A system for achieving glider flight comprising a launching meanscomprising a rod having at least one flat surface longitudinally thereonand a projectile comprising an elongated fuselage, at least twoaerodynamically stabilizing wings projecting from said fuselage and achannel extending longitudinally through said fuselage, said channelhaving a configuration adapted to cooperatively receive said rodtherethrough and a flat surface for slidably engage said flat surface onsaid rod for preventing rotation of said projectile about said rod whensaid rod is engaged through said channel.
 2. The system according toclaim 1 wherein said channel is substantially cylindrical and said flatsurface comprises at least a plug at one end of said channel andextending partially into said channel.
 3. The system according to claim2 wherein said rod has a handle on one end thereof.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 3 wherein said plut is at the end of said channelnearest said handle.
 5. The system according to claim 2 wherein there isa plug extending partially into said channel at both ends of saidchannel.
 6. The system according to claim 2 wherein said channel andflat surface plug form a semicircular slot.
 7. The system according toclaim 6 wherein said rod has a semicircular cross-section.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein said channel has at least one rollermounted therein for contacting said rod.
 9. The system according toclaim 1 wherein said rod has a plurality of ball bearings movablymounted on the surface thereof for contacting said channel and reducingfriction and drag.
 10. A flying projectile comprising an elongatedfuselage, at least two aerodynamically stabilizing wings projectingtherefrom and a channel extending longitudinally through said fuselagesaid channel having at least one flat surface therein extending along atleast a portion of said channel.
 11. The projectile according to claim10 wherein said flat surface comprises a plug extending partially intosaid channel.
 12. The projectile according to claim 11 wherein said plugand channel form a semicircular slot.
 13. The projectile according toclaim 12 wherein a plug partially extending into said channel isadjacent to both ends of said channel.
 14. The projectile according toclaim 10 wherein a hook extends angularly from said fuselage.